If you’re anything like me, that first sip of coffee in the morning might be one of the most enjoyable parts of your day. For real coffee enthusiasts, the search for the perfect coffee machine is never over.

One of the newest trends is the one-cup coffee makers, ready to give you a freshly brewed cup any time you want.

At first, I thought these machines wouldn’t work in a household of four, but as I began my research, I quickly realized how wrong I was – these little appliances are a great addition to any kitchen.

What are One Cup Coffee Makers?

The name already says a lot about the nature of the product - the idea behind single-serve coffee makers is that you get a freshly brewed cup every time.

With the increased popularity of coffee shops, the demand for a quickly made fresh cup of coffee began to rise. The end-result was the one-cup coffee maker, an appliance capable of giving you that coffee shop experience in the privacy of your home.

The single-cup brewing system works by letting a certain amount of heated water go through the single-serve coffee container.

The final product – coffee – is then poured into the cup placed under the brewer’s outlet and in no time, you’re able to enjoy your favorite beverage.

Benefits Of One Cup Coffee Makers

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Fresh Coffee – If you’re somewhat of a coffee enthusiast like myself, I’m sure you appreciate the freshness of coffee and not just its flavor. That is probably the main reason I’d recommend you to get a one-cup coffee maker – every cup will be freshly brewed when you want it. If you buy a single-serve coffee maker, you can say goodbye to coffee that’s been sitting in a pot for hours.

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Fast – The fact that you won’t need to brew a full pot is another great benefit of this type of coffee makers; just put the coffee container in, push a button and in a matter of minutes you’ll be enjoying your beverage.

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Customizable – Instead of everyone drinking the same, standard coffee from the pot, the one-cup coffee makers give everyone in the house (or office) the option of choosing their preferred brand, strength, and flavor.

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Convenient – Aside from being fast, these coffee makers are also convenient because they eliminate the pot from the equation; coffee is poured directly into your cup or travel mug. If you’re one of those people that are always running late, this will be a lifesaver.

What To Look For In Your One-Cup Coffee Maker?

Even if you have your eyes on a certain brand, there is still a wide range of models available. To help you, I’ve made a list of features you should look for in a one-cup coffee maker - I used the same criteria when I first decided to buy one for our home.

1. Reservoir

Even though models with smaller tanks might cost less, when possible, opt for a bigger one; it will be a lot more convenient as you won’t need to refill it after every use.

2. Timer

A timer will allow you to program the coffee maker to turn on and brew your coffee at a certain time; this feature is great if you want to have a cup already waiting for you when you get up in the morning.

3. Brew Strength

Some models will let you adjust the brew strength, which is a nice feature to have if you want to change between lighter and darker brews. If the one you’re looking to buy doesn’t offer that option, don’t worry; you can somewhat adjust it if you change the size of the cup.

4. Auto Shut-Off

That is primarily a safety feature; it will allow you just to grab your cup and go about your day without the fear of suddenly realizing you left your coffee maker on.

5. Available and Affordable Single-Serve Containers

If you decide to buy a single-serve coffee maker, you’ll need adequate containers to go with it. Visit your local store or do a quick online search to find out the cost and availability of the particular type of capsules you need. I’ll let you in on a little secret – if you buy them in bulk, you’ll save a lot of money.

6. Reusable Capsule

In case you can’t be bothered to search for adequate single-serve containers all the time or think it’s too much money for a cup of coffee, look for a model that works with reusable capsules. That way, you can fill it with your grounds, which will save you some money in the long run.

7. Noise

That isn’t necessarily a rule, but more expensive models are usually the quiet ones; if, however, you don’t think the noise will bother you that much, you can always put your budget first and go for the cheaper model. After all, it’s just for a couple of minutes.

8. Size

When you’re buying a kitchen appliance, you need to consider available counter space. The good thing about one-cup coffee makers is that they have a smaller footprint than other types of coffee makers.

9. Cost

Last, but not least important factor you need to consider is the price. I wouldn’t say a higher price necessarily equals better product; you can get a quality one-cup coffee maker at reasonable prices, too. However, you shouldn’t expect the lower price-range models to have the same advanced features as the high-end ones.

This brand has become vastly popular among coffee enthusiasts around the world, as it offers quality and consistency with every cup.

On my list is the Keurig K55, a very stylish model that will look good in any kitchen. You should keep in mind that it’s slightly larger than some other coffee makers mentioned in this article, so if you’re already struggling to find free space on your counter, maybe you should move on to the next one.

However, the dimensions of this coffee machine are not a design flaw; they are the consequence of the reservoir size, capable of holding up to 48 ounces of water. That’s the advantage this model has over others on the list – there’s no need to refill it after every use, which usually isn’t the case with one-cup coffee makers.

The market is filled with a variety of K-Cup pods because of the popularity of Keurig units. There are hundreds of different coffee flavors to choose from, and when you’re not in the mood for coffee, you can use it to make tea.

If you’re more of a ground coffee fan, you can remove the K-Cup holder and add a scoop of your favorite grounds. As you might have guessed, this is one of the most versatile coffee makers on the market.

This model could be the perfect example of quality products that you can find in the lower price range. As I said earlier, sometimes you don’t have to spend a lot on a kitchen appliance – you just need to know which features are important.

Design-vise, this is a simple coffee maker; the manufacturer didn’t pay a lot of attention to the aesthetics of the product, but it does what it’s supposed to, and that’s what counts.

It’s made out of plastic, which may put some buyers off, but as long as you handle it with care, I’m sure there won’t be any issues. If you have a small kitchen or plan on keeping it on your work desk, the compact, space-saving design of this personal coffee maker is a feature you’ll find useful.

As I’ve mentioned previously, for safety purposes, automatic shut-off is a characteristic that you want in your kitchen appliances, and this one has it.

Once it finishes brewing your coffee, the machine will immediately turn off, so you don’t have to worry about it – just grab your travel mug and get on with your day. Oh, did I forget to mention that this coffee maker comes with a stainless steel travel mug?

Another plus for this personal coffee maker is that it has a permanent grounds filter, which means no wasteful paper ones; this feature is both convenient and eco-friendly, and you know that’s something I appreciate in any appliance, not just coffee makers.

Bella BLA14436 is a simple one cup coffee maker, without all the bells and whistles.

It’s pretty straightforward – you pour water in, add a scoop of your favorite coffee, flip the switch, and in no time, your coffee is waiting for you. However, I’d like to point out the fact that there’s no auto shut-off. It’s not that big of an issue, but make sure you’ve turned it off.

The fact that it’s made of plastic might make it look a bit cheap, but don’t let it fool you – with some maintenance and careful handling, you can get several years of use out of this machine.

A huge advantage of this product is that it’s environment-friendly because there are no disposable filters - this One Scoop One Cup Coffee Maker uses a permanent filter. Not only is it eco-friendly, but it’s also budget-friendly in the long run, too.

I’d recommend this unit to anyone who doesn’t have the space needed for bigger coffee makers; if you’re a college student living in a dorm room, this might be the one you should consider buying. Also, it’s nice to see the four different colors you can choose from; that way you can be sure it’ll fit in with the rest of your living space.

The stainless steel construction of this Hamilton Beach coffee maker gives it a sturdy, durable feel. That, combined with a simple, yet sleek design, makes it look good on any kitchen counter, and since it’s so compact, it won’t take up a lot of valuable space.

I’m going to take a minute to talk about the coffee-making process, as there are several things related to it, that I’d like to point out as advantages.

The single-serve scoop filter means you won’t have to deal with finding the right capsules or disposing of paper filters – so, not only is it convenient, but environment-friendly at the same time.

Once you position the scoop, you can choose between “Regular” or “Bold” by pushing the appropriate button. The LED light will then turn on to announce that the brewing process has begun; once it finishes, the unit will shut off automatically.

The best thing is this unit is quiet, so you won’t hear a thing, except the sound of coffee pouring into your cup.

This Hamilton Beach model is a rather simple unit, both regarding design and features, which explains the low price.

If you’re just looking to buy a personal coffee maker to keep on your work desk or in your room, this could be the one. It will do what it's supposed to – make you a cup of coffee and then turn off automatically, but it's stripped of all the additional features.

As I’ve already mentioned, the automatic shut-off feature is a great thing for kitchen appliances, especially those that include heat.

Unlike the previous Hamilton Beach model on my list, this one uses coffee pods. The fact that it doesn’t use coffee grounds means there will be virtually no mess to clean up after you finish, and when it’s time to wash the brew basket, just put it in the dishwasher.

The unit is capable of brewing up to 12 oz. of coffee, which could be considered a standard size cup. However, if you want to drink your coffee on the go, you’ll encounter an issue – a travel mug (or any taller cups, for that matter) can’t fit in the unit.

Even with the disadvantages in mind, when everything is summed up, in the lower price range, this one is tough to beat.

Things I Liked

Very affordable

Uses coffee pods instead of grounds

Shuts off automatically when done brewing

Brew basket is dishwasher safe

Easy to use

Things I Didn’t Like

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Doesn’t fit tall cups or travel mugs

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Reservoir holds water for one cup only

And The Winner Is…

There was a lot of research and comparison included in this decision-making process, but it was still hard for me to make the final pick.

I had to include all the factors I’ve talked about previously, and weigh-in on which features I think are an absolute must-have in a one cup coffee maker.

Barbara Whitney

For the last 20 years, I’ve been cooking, preparing, researching, and gathering recipes, tools, and knowledge about food and the way we prepare it. Raising two lively boys and spoiling one great husband later, it’s safe to say that I’ve optimized my kitchen to deliver the best possible meal, no matter the occasion.

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